THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Sunday, December 10, 1995 TAG: 9512010494
SECTION: COMMENTARY PAGE: J3 EDITION: FINAL
TYPE: Book Review
SOURCE: BY ANN G. SJOERDSMA
LENGTH: Medium: 65 lines
First, a brief autobiographical prologue. My mother, who was exceptionally intelligent, was the most beautiful girl in Alabama. Everyone said so, and it was true; and when she was sixteen she married a twenty-eight-year-old businessman who came from a good New Orleans family. The marriage lasted a year. My mother was too young to be a mother or a wife; she was also too ambitious - she wanted to go to college and to have a career. So she left her husband; and as for what to do with me, she deposited me in the care of her large Alabama family.
Thus begins the late Truman Capote's magical, but heartbreaking story of a childhood Christmas when he is sent from his Alabama home and his beloved cousin Sook to New Orleans and a father he has never met.
A classic holiday memoir, One Christmas (Random House, $15) tells of the innocence and wisdom of a 6-year-old country boy who says his prayers and believes in Santa Claus, but cannot return his father's love. It's a beautiful coming-of-age story that makes a memorable gift for adults and children alike.
Other little books of the season to keep in mind for stocking stuffers:
The Christmas Box (Simon & Schuster, $12.95), by Richard Paul Evans, tells the touching story of an elderly widow, who harbors a secret grief, and the young family who move into her sprawling Victorian mansion to care for her. Too busy with his growing business to spend time with his little daughter Jenna, Richard changes his outlook after he discovers a beautiful turn-of-the-century Christmas box in Mary's attic. A made-for-TV movie based on the best-selling novella and starring Maureen O'Hara and Richard Thomas will air next Sunday.
Home for the Holidays: Stories and Art Created for the Benefit of Habitat for Humanity (Peachtree, $13.95), edited by Gene Stelten, gathers holiday memories, and signatures, of more than 60 prominent Americans, including Maya Angelou, Mickey Mantle, John Grisham, Bonnie Blair, Barbara Bush, Newt Gingrich, Andrew Young and Casey Kasem. All proceeds go to Habitat for Humanity.
The Christmas Tree: The Heart of Traditional Yuletide (Clarkson N. Potter, $18), by Barbara Segall, traces the pagan origins, legend and traditions surrounding the season's most noted symbol. The book is decorated with a garter of gold ribbon.
Just Say Noel!: A History of Christmas from the Nativity to the Nineties (Fireside/Simon & Schuster, paper, $11), by David Comfort, overflows with tidbits and treasures from Christmases past and present, and promises to ``dehumbug your inner grinch.''
Christmas 1995: Unlock the Secrets to a Truly Happy Holiday (Walker and Co., paper, $8.95), by Mary Thompson and Deborah Pike, offers suggestions on ``simplicity, giving, and celebrating with friends and family'' without breaking the bank.
The Best Christmas Ever: How to Recapture the True Spirit of the Holidays (Career Press, $6.99; 1-800-955-7373), by Karin Ireland, gives tips on gift-giving, hassle-free celebrations and conquering holiday blues. Career Press pledges to donate a share of each book's profit to help feed hungry families.
- MEMO: Ann G. Sjoerdsma is book editor for The Virginian-Pilot. by CNB